When it comes to engagement photos, there is a lot of pressure on what to wear. For some, these are the first professional photos you have done as a couple and they are a snapshot of one of the happiest times of your life – your engagement. We’ve featured so many beautiful engagement shoots over the years here on Apple Brides, from country to city to whimsical to classic. We’ve sifted through the archives to find our favorite engagement outfits from real couples to help share our tips on what to wear.
Stick With Your Personal Style
In our opinion, this is the most important thing to remember when planning your engagement outfits. When you look back on your engagement photos, you want to be overcome with sentiments of “that’s us.” Who you were during this monumentally important stage of your life should shine through every part of your photos, whether that’s Northwest country or city chic!
Play Into The Setting (Location, Season, Weather)
When planning your e-sesh, don’t try to wear a flowy light dress in the snow. Not only will you be severely uncomfortable, it will look out of place. We love how this couple matched the winter outdoor theme with their cozy jackets, scarves and warm colors.
On the other side, if you plan on doing a summer engagement in a downtown setting, not only should you lighten up your outfits, send an “out on the town” vibe.
Pair Bold Colors & Neutrals
If one of you sports a bold color, it will really help your photos POP! Just don’t go overboard, pair it with lots of neutrals for flawless execution. We love how the couple above both chose one bright bold color to stand out among their otherwise classic outfits.
Coordinate, But Don’t Match
Pick one color and don two different shades or styles. We love how the first couple pulled one color from his plaid shirt and represented it through her dress! The second bride and groom-to-be creatively mixed their outfits up by both wearing black, but her’s with a fun pattern.
Pull an accent color from one piece and use it to plan the rest of the outfit. This will help you look like you’re in unison as a couple, without overwhelming the viewer’s eyes.
Select A Standout Piece
When you have a standout piece, it will really help make your e-photos memorable and Pinterest-worthy. For instance, we’ve been fawning over these brides’ boots & floppy hat combo and fun tulle skirt ever since we first saw them!
Have Multiple Outfits
Bringing multiple outfits is the easiest way to showcase the multiple facets of your personalities during your engagement session. You can do his/her style, fancy/laid-back, classic/trendy, the options are endless!
To Really Let Your Love Shine, Choose Classic Pieces
When you choose to wear classic, neutral pieces for your engagement photos, all eyes will be on you and your fiancée. Crazy patterns and lots of loud colors only take the focus away from what’s most important. This works really well for outdoor engagement session, where there is a lot going on in the background. And of course, classic pieces always stand the test of time. They will look just as good in 50 years as they did the day you took them!
But don’t just take our word for it! When we asked engagement photo expert Brent Looyenga about what he recommends for engagement photos, here’s what he said:
When i’m talking to a client about an engagement, the first thing I always tell people is to pick something that they think they look good in. People, in general, always look best when they think they look good. Being comfortable and confident are huge factors in having great engagement photos. The other thing I always tell people is to avoid any clothes with logos on them because it draws attention away from the people, and to the logo/words. The last thing to remember is to pick more than one outfit – especially if you have bold colors or patterns (like flannel or bright blue or pink). This gives some very good variety to the photos, so that when they are all next to each other, a single shirt or color doesn’t pop out, distracting you from the subjects – the amazing couple.
